Further explanation please?

[mccann1984]

Hi,
I am hoping somebody could explain the new law that allows Northern Irish people to be treated as EU applicants for the Settlement Scheme. I am Northern Irish with both British and Irish citizenship - currently living in Canada with my Canadian wife. The article states that applications would be open from 24th August but only those who are living in the country by December 31st would be eligible.
To me, that doesn't seem like a long time to apply, get processed, passport sent back to canada and then travel?

Andy

[kamoe]

The article states that applications would be open from 24th August

Can you please give more details as to what article you are referring to?

but only those who are living in the country by December 31st would be eligible.
To me, that doesn't seem like a long time to apply, get processed, passport sent back to canada and then travel?

I think you might be mixing up two different things here, hence why I ask for further clarification above.

The rationale is that the UK left the EU on January 31st, 2020. On that date, a transition period started to allow people the time to move to the UK and still benefit from EU free movement, so a Dec 31 2020 date does allow 11 months for that. As of May 2020, 4 of those those 11 months have already passed, but this was communicated well in advance since early 2019, precisely to allow people to prepare.

Considering the UK already left the EU, the approach could have been much more strict, without any transition period, and not allow anyone at all after January 31st 2020.

[CR001]

The article states that applications would be open from 24th August

Can you please give more details as to what article you are referring to?

but only those who are living in the country by December 31st would be eligible.
To me, that doesn't seem like a long time to apply, get processed, passport sent back to canada and then travel?

I think you might be mixing up two different things here, hence why I ask for further clarification above.

The rationale is that the UK left the EU on January 31st, 2020. On that date, a transition period started to allow people the time to move to the UK and still benefit from EU free movement, so a Dec 31 2020 date does allow 11 months for that. As of May 2020, 4 of those those 11 months have already passed, but this was communicated well in advance since early 2019, precisely to allow people to prepare.

Considering the UK already left the EU, the approach could have been much more strict, without any transition period, and not allow anyone at all after January 31st 2020.

eea-route-applications/good-new-for-peo ... l#p1899091

[kamoe]

Thanks, @CR001 !

To the OP: You are indeed mixing up two different things here.

One thing is people born in Northern Ireland now having the (apparent) unconditional right to benefit from the EUSS for their family members.

Something else, entirely different, and entirely independent, is the deadline of December 2020 for moving to the UK, which applies to families from all EU nationalities, not only Northern Irish. The December 2020 deadline was not introduced by this recent ruling, it has been there from the beginning of the launch of EUSS last year.